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22/05/2012

Applications are required from suitably qualified candidates into the Graduate Research Program in West African Climate System (GRP-WACS). The program is highly competitive and offers admission to only ten candidates, one from each The West African Science Service Center on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL) countries (Nigeria, Ghana, Republic of Benin, Cote d’Ivoire, Togo, Niger, Mali, Burkina Faso, Senegal and The Gambia).

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATION: June 30, 2012

ELIGIBILITY

Candidates should have Masters Degree in Meteorology, Atmospheric Physics, climatology, and other relevant disciplines, normally with an average of at least 60% in their Masters Programme.

Candidates must possess at least Second Class (Upper Division) in their first degree; All candidates must possess five (5) ‘O’ level credits as required in relevant subjects but must include English Language, Physics and Mathematics ( bac scientifique, option math et physique et anglais); Pass proficiency test in English;

Candidates should give names and email addresses of three(3) referees, one of whom must be his/her Master’s thesis supervisor

Candidates must submit both soft and hard copies of their project pre-proposal, which will be fine-tuned under the guidance of their supervisors, if admitted.

The Graduate Research Program is a structured Ph.D with English as language of instruction. Therefore the following are the language requirements:

-Credit passes in English language at O/L West African School Certificate Examinations or at baccalaureate

-Francophone candidates must have an intermediate level of English. In general, a computer-based TOEFL score of 213 (or the equivalent) is required for entry into graduate research programs.

-Applicants with limited English skills are encouraged to use the time between application and the final selection process (August 2012), to attend English training classes at their own charge.

Please note that a 2 to 3 months English proficiency course will be offered to selected francophone students at the University of Cape Coast, in Ghana, to help meet entry requirement.

HOW TO APPLY

(a) All applicants are required to download and fill the application form at www.wascal.futa.edu.ng

(b) The following documents are required for the Application: project pre-proposal, resume or curriculum vitae; recommendation letters from three (3) referees, one of whom must be your M. Sc supervisor; test scores for GRE or TOEFL or both); academic transcripts (with their official English translations if the originals are not in English).

You can submit your pre-proposal and recommendation online with your application.

The list of successful candidates will be decided by end of August, 2012.

PROGRAM OFFERED: Doctor of Philosophy (Ph. D) in Climate Science.

The philosophy of the WASCAL GRP is to train climate scientists empowered with adequate scientific and professional capacities needed to provide appropriate and effective solutions to the multi-dimensional problems of the negative impacts of climate change and variability.

The objectives of the GRP are to:

1.Provide theoretical and practical training in the West African climate system;

2.Produce, through multi-disciplinary approach, the required critical mass of climate scientists needed for the daunting task of developing effective and sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies needed to assist the governments of West Africa.

3.Develop the intellectual capital and potential of the region to address the threats and negative impacts of climate change and variability as they would impact vital economic sectors such as agriculture, weather forecasting services, water resources, transport industry, energy, the environment and natural disaster management efforts.

4.Network the Lead University with the academic research communities in the region on climate change issues through collaboration with other GRPs in the partner Universities also supported by WASCAL. This will maximize their capabilities to improve the training of meteorologists and climate scientists for better overall results and increased benefit to West Africa.

5.Carry out its mandate in partnership with German institutions

The need for the graduate research program (GRP):

West Africa has been identified by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC, 2007) as one of the areas of the world that is most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change but with the least existing adaptation and mitigation capacities. Also, present global and regional climate models are incapable of representing or capturing the many local peculiarities that determine and shape the climate of West Africa. Furthermore, comprehensive solutions to climate change impacts are multi-dimensional and thus require a multi-disciplinary approach.

Although meteorology and climate science education programs exist in a few West African countries, even fewer number offer these courses at the Masters and Ph.D levels and, in such cases, far below the critical mass needed for the task of developing effective and sustainable adaptation and mitigation strategies that could assist the governments of the region. Therefore, there is a strong need to encourage and support the few universities and research institutions to synergize their efforts on a regional basis and thus maximize their capabilities to improve the training of meteorologists and climate scientists for better overall results and increased benefit to West Africa.

PROGRAM DURATION

The Ph. D in the West African Climate System is a full time program, with a sponsored duration of 36 months. It has the following components:

i) Lecture component – six (6) months

ii) Research Plan preparation – 7 months, 6 concurrent with (i) above

iii) Field/Research Work – eighteen (18) months

iv) Visit to Germany – six(6) months – also for Research work

v) Final Thesis write-up and defence – five (5) months

SCHOLARSHIP AND RESEARCH SUPPORT

The Graduate Research Program is fully funded by the German Government and includes monthly stipend (€500), visit to Germany, travel and research project grant. The following are the criteria for students‘ scholarship and continued research support:

-Students after admission will be required to maintain a graduate level equivalent to Grade Point Average (GPA) of B or a minimum of B from each course.

-During the course curriculum phase, students will be required to develop a detailed research programme, including the budget, that has to be accepted by his/her supervisory committee, consisting of at least two graduate faculty members, and endorsed by the Advisory Board. During the project/research stage, students are expected to present their progress reports regularly and be evaluated in accordance with FUTA Post Graduate School Regulations.

ACADEMIC LECTURERS

Graduate Research Program (GRP) students will have the rare opportunity of having a truly international program with a full complement of international faculty/staff drawn from the Federal University of Technology, Akure, the Partner University (Augsburg University/KIT, Germany) and the International Advisory Board Universities [Univesite Cheikh Anta Diop, Dakar (UCAD), Senegal; University Abdou Moumouni, Niamey, Niger; Universite d’Abomey-Calavi, Benin Republic; Kwame Nkrumah University of Science & Tech., Kumasi, Ghana and University Cocody-Abidjan, Cote d’Ivoire]

21/05/2012

DAAD, as a publicly funded, self-governing organisation of the institutions of higher education in Germany, promotes international academic exchange as well as educational co-operation with developing countries through a variety of funding and scholarship programmes.

The purpose of the programme is to provide opportunities to post-doctoral researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa to conduct, under the guidance of their host institutions, cooperative research at a German university or other research institutions. The programme is designed to augment opportunities for researchers from Sub-Saharan Africa.Please note that short term visits for study and training purposes or for attending conferences are not eligible for sponsorship. DAAD is offering approximately 10 fellowships in 2012.

Applicants have to• be alumni of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) within the “In-Region / In-Country Scholarship Programme”.• have completed their Ph.D. degree less than six years ago.• hold an academic position at a university or research institution in Sub-Saharan Africa.• submit an invitation from a German host institution together with a research plan which must have been arranged in advance with the host researcher in Germany. (please note: DAAD does not find or introduce host institutions.)• be nationals of a Sub-Saharan African country.

Applicants will be required to use the link: http://www.daad.de/imperia/md/content/en/deutschland/form... to apply for this programme. (To complete the form: Please tick “other programmes” on page 1, page 4 and 5do not apply here!)Documents to be submitted• Green DAAD application form, duly filled and signed.• Hand-signed Curriculum Vitae (please use the europass specimen form at http://europass.cedefop.europa.eu), including list of publications.• Research proposal including detailed time and work plan.• Confirmation from a German professor stating that he/she will host the applicant during the stay.• 2 recommendation letters of academic referees.• PhD certificate (certified as true copy of the original certificate).• Master’s certificate (certified as true copy of the original certificate).